Wabash College

Graphs are widely used to model relational data in various domains, including social media, e-commerce, telecommunications, and finance. Graph analytics is one of the most popular techniques for analyzing connectivity patterns in communication networks and identifying suspicious behaviors. However, detecting fraud rings at scale is significantly challenging since the volume of graph data is growing exponentially. Moreover, many Python-based graph libraries rely on in-memory computation, which often struggles with large-scale networks. To address these limitations, we extend our previous semiring-based graph computation framework into a domain-specific solution for large-scale fraud ring detection. We formalize key graph patterns that indicate the presence of fraud rings and develop a general detection algorithm based on semiring operations. Our algebraic approach operates efficiently on a hybrid architecture that can scale beyond RAM constraints. Furthermore, it provides interpretable results, ensuring mathematical transparency to meet regulatory demands for explainability. Our approach is developed in C++, and it can be easily called in Python. An Experimental comparison with state-of-the-art Python packages shows that our approach has comparative performance for both small and large graphs.

In nature, hollow precipitation tubes form around deep sea hydrothermal vents and generate an electric potential across the material membrane. These structures are of significant scientific interest due to their possible connection to the origins of life on Earth, and synthetic precipitation membrane structures have been created in the laboratory to study their growth. This paper reports on the formation of metal hydroxide precipitation membranes within a microfluidic device designed to allow for the measurement of the electric potential across the flow channel during material formation. Using this device, the electric potential and growth curves were measured for nickel hydroxide, iron hydroxide, and cobalt hydroxide precipitation membranes. Based on these experiments, it was hypothesized that the application of an electric potential in opposition to the generated potential would reduce the growth rate of the membranes, and this hypothesis was experimentally verified. The results of this work discuss that the membranes formed are likely selectively permeable to a diffusive positive ion, possibly H+, which is responsible for controlling the growth rates of the material. Additional experiments, including direct electrical measurements of the membrane itself during growth, measurement of the pH within the flow channel, and material characterization after removal from the device, are proposed to further explore the growth of precipitation membranes.

Abstract In this paper, we propose a novel end‐to‐end method to model 3D objects with geometric details from a single‐view sketch input. Specifically, a novel deep learning‐based differentiable sketch renderer is introduced to establish the relationship between geometric features, represented by normal maps, and 2D sketch strokes. Then, building upon this renderer, we design algorithms to automatically create 3D models with geometric details from a single‐view sketch. With the aid of two introduced loss functions: one based on silhouette‐derived confidence maps and the other on regression similarities, our framework supports the gradient of loss functions calculated between the rendered sketch and input sketch back‐propagating through the whole architecture, thereby enhancing the geometric details on the frontal surface of the generated 3D object. Through comparisons with state‐of‐the‐art sketch‐based 3D modelling techniques, our approach demonstrates superior capability in generating plausible geometric shapes and details, without the necessity for semantic annotations within the input sketch.

Well-trained scientists work collaboratively with people of various expertise, balancing their technical knowledge with many other factors when addressing complex problems. However, biochemistry courses are under pressure to cover a wide range of content and traditional pedagogy and may not address the development of this important skill. Deliberation, which is a facilitated conversation that encourages the consideration of different perspectives and approaches to complex societal issues, is one opportunity to engage students in applying their fundamental knowledge together with their lived experience. Here, we apply a polarity mapping model of deliberation to the question of releasing genetically modified mice to control tick-borne Lyme disease in Nantucket. Participants considered the tension between ecological preservation and genetic innovation in this case. Inductive thematic analysis of student responses to open-ended questions after the deliberation highlight positive learning outcomes along three key themes: collaboration, synthesis of ideas and information, and understanding of trade-offs and tensions.

Abstract Origen finds in Hebrews a definitive Pauline description of Jewish reading practices and, by extension, a way of articulating his notion of Christian uniqueness. Origen seizes upon the language of Hebrews 8:5, which describes the wilderness tabernacle as a “shadowy copy” (ὑποδείγματι καὶ σκιᾷ) of its heavenly counterpart. For Origen, this text defines Christian and Jewish reading practices simultaneously; Jews read the shadows, while Christians are capable of attaining the spiritual reference. The centrality of this notion of reading is registered in Origen’s reconstruction of Jesus and Paul, who are presented as the inventor and practitioner of a new approach to reading the Law of Israel. Challenging readings of Origen that frame his stereotype of Jewish literalism as inconsistent with his lived experience, this chapter claims that Origen builds his conception of Jewish/Christian difference around the art of reading and is informed primarily by the language of Hebrews 8:5.

Abstract We analyze how CIA covert interventions during the Cold War influenced ideological change in target countries. Our findings, derived from generalized difference-in-differences, event studies, randomized inference tests, and placebo analysis of unsuccessful CIA cover operations, show that successful covert CIA interventions boosted conservative ideology while diminishing socialist/communist ideology and overall ideological legitimation. In contrast, unsuccessful interventions increased overall ideology, particularly socialist/communist ideologies, and reduced conservative ideology. JEL Classification: D73, K42, O17, P16

Abstract Many policy issues, such as nuclear waste management, are complex and require expertise to address. In many such policy areas, decisions are made by elected officials with input largely from experts and not the public or other stakeholders. However, such top‐down approaches can create mistrust and political opposition. In the case of nuclear waste management in the United States, the selection of a single waste repository (Yucca Mountain in Nevada) by Congress led to strong opposition, stagnation, and an eventual call for a participatory, consent‐based siting approach to determine the location for a nuclear waste repository. While consent‐based siting is appealing, it is not clear if the public, broadly speaking, would support a participatory approach or an expert‐driven approach regarding nuclear waste management. In this paper, we examine public trust and public preferences for policy influence among elected officials, experts, and citizens. Specifically, we develop and test a theoretical framework that posits that the various cultural worldviews—hierarchy, egalitarianism, individualism, and fatalism—shape trust in policy actors and that cultural worldviews and trust shape which policy actors the public believes should influence nuclear waste policymaking. Overall, we find the public trusts citizens and experts more than the government and elected officials. Additionally, we find that the public thinks experts should have more influence on nuclear waste policy than citizens or elected officials. Finally, regarding cultural worldviews, hierarchs tended to trust experts and elected officials and support their influence, whereas egalitarians tended to trust citizens and support their influence.